Game ball



Patented Mar. 31, 1942 GAME BALL William J. V'oit, Los Angeles, and Leith c. Wei-- mes, Southgate, Galiik;

to said Voit said Weimer assignor (lriginal application October 25, 1938, Serial No. 236,856. Divided and this application July 27, 1940, Serial No. 347,894

7 Claims. (Cl. 27358) This application is a division of our application Serial No. 236,856 for a Method of manufacturing a game ball," filed October "25, 1938.

' This invention relates to game balls including golf1balls and polo balls and especially to baseballs of the soft ball type in which a casing or cover encloses a center or core of compacted fibrous material.

A ball produced in accordance with this invention: and the method of manufacture by which it is produced are similar to the game ball and method of producing it constituting the subject matter of Patent No. 2,127,487, issued on August 16, 1938, to William J. Voit. The ball and manufacturing method of this invention represent an improvement upon the ball and manufacturing method described in that patent.

Balls of this general type comprise centers or cores of some fibrous material such as kapok, wool, cotton waste and the like, formed into generally spherical shape, and a cover for the center ofrubber, leather, or other suitable wear resisting material. In the ball described in Patent No. 2,127,487 the kapok core is wound with strands of yarn, cord, or other fibrous material, and a rubber cover is molded about this core. That invention relates to the establishment of-internal pressure within the core while the rubber cover is being vulcanized thereon within amold, and to the subsequent relief of that pressure. This internal pressure forces the material of the rubber cover 'into intimate contact with the inner surface of the mold to give the ball a true spherical shape, to cast accurately upon its outer surface designs which may be formed on the'inner' surface of the mold, and to insure an even distribution of the material of the cover in a uniformly dense, solid layer devoid of soft spots.

The present invention has as one of its features the provisionof an inner layer or wall of rubber, additional to the outer rubber cover of the abovementioned patent, for the two-fold purpose of rendering the internally established pressure more effective and providing a stronger, more durable outer casing for the ball.

Another purpose of the invention is the provision of specific means of a novel character for the establishment of internal pressure at the time of vulcanizing the ball, and of specific means of a' novel character for the application of the cover material to the core prior to vulcanization.

Another feature of our invention relates to the character of the core and has as its purpose means for preventing the core material from becoming unduly dry with the result that it is pulverized by the heat of vulcanization-or by treatment incident to its use in play.

Other objects .will be apparent from the following description of our invention and from the drawing by which it is illustrated as well as from the claims in which the invention is specifically defined.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the sphere of kapok which constitutes the central portion of the ball.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the kapok sphere after it has been wrapped with a few strands of yarn.

Fig. '3 shows in sphere after it has been covered with an inner layer of rubber.

Fig. 4 shows in section the ball center after the next step has been performed of winding additional strands of yarn upon it.

Fig. 5 shows in section the ball with the rubber material of the .outer cover in position ready for vulcanization.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a mold and the ball within the mold completely assembled and ready for the step of vulcanization.

Fig. '7 shows in vertical elevation the completed ball.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the details of construction of the ball. Y i

Fig. 9 is a sectional=elevation of a mold and ball center within the mold, ready for application of the covering material according to an alternative method.

The first step in manufacturing the ball is the formation, according to any of the well known methods familiar to those skilled in the art, of a compacted, roughly spherical mass ll of kapok, wool, cotton waste, or like material. One method of forming the ball of kapok consists'of pressing a measured quantity of kapok between two hemispherical metallic cups (not shown) While thus compressed, a. few threads are passed back and forth between the mass of kapok by means of a needle which is inserted through slits formed in the cups, and the ends of the threads are tied, holding the kapok mass roughly to shape. The cups are then removed, and a few strands 12 of yarn are wound around the kapok I I, by'any convenient means, in sumcient number to prevent stray fibers from projecting from the surface of the center. The ball center then appears as shown in Fig. 2.

The center is next placed in an air-tight section the yarn-wound kapok v chamber (not shown) into which steam at a pressure of about 50 pounds is admitted. The steam penetrates all parts of the kapok mass and moistens all of its fibers. It has been found that about a quarter of an ounce of water is absorbed in this way by the kapok of a 4 inch ball, and other amounts proportionately by balls of other diameters.

Thesatu'rated kapok mass H is then removed from the steam chamber and after cooling is dipped in or otherwise coated with rubber cement or latex, indicated in the drawing at M, and is covered with a thin wall l5 of vulcanizable rubber. This ,wall I5 is preferably gas-tight after it has been applied and can be put on in any desired manner. We prefer to apply two hemispherical sheets of rubber in such manner that they'are integrally joined at their meeting edges Hi to form a hollow sphere about the kapok.

The ball at this stage in its manufacture is wound with strands of yarn forming a layer ll which is preferably of substantially greater thickness than that of the strands 12. These strands are preferably coated with latex or the like before or during the winding operation.

Under some conditions it may be preferred to use fabric woven from fibrous material in place of wound strands of yarn or thread. This may be done by applying fitted sections of the fabric to the rubber wall l5, which may be secured in position by rubber cement or any other well known means. The center or core is then preferably dipped in or otherwise coated with latex or similar material, as indicated at Ha, and covered with an outer casing [8 of vulcanizable rubber which, like the wall I5, is preferably made by applying two hemispherical sheets of rubber to the ball center in such manner that they are integrally joined at their meeting edges IS. The ball is now completely assembled and ready for the molding operation.' It has a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter which it is intended the finished ball shall have.

The assembled ball is placed in a two-part mold 20, the cavity of which is a sphere of the diameter of the finished ball. Since it is somewhat larger than the cavity of the mold, the ball is slightly compressed when the mold parts are brought together.

An internal pneumatic pressure is next established within the ball center. This may be accomplished by the use of a hypodermic needle 2| to inject air or other fluid through the outer rubber cover l8, the strands l1, and the inner rubber layer or wall l5 into the ball center in the manner described in Patent No. 2,127,487, or it may be accomplished by means of a gasproducing chemical either in liquid form or in the form of a pill (not shown) placed somewhere in or upon the kapok center II prior to the application of the rubber wall I5 thereon. Such chemicals generate gas when heated, which in this case is effected by the heat used to vulcanize I the ball in the mold. This internal pneumatic pressure may also be created by wetting the kapok H with liquid ammonia before it is covered with the inner rubber wall l5';' or the water forces outwardly the wall IS, the layer of strands of yarn l1, and the outer cover l8 against the inner face of the mold 20. While this pressure exists, a vulcanizing heat is applied to the mold. The vulcanizable rubber of the outer cover 18 in the softened condition induced by the vulcanizing heat is pressed into intimate contact with the mold face and has formed on its outer surface a smooth spherical contour broken only by the relief and indented markings 22 corresponding to the design impressed upon the mold walls. This design may be in simulation of the seams and stitches of a leather covered ball as shown at 22 in Fig. '7, or of any other desired character.

The heated soft rubber material of both the layers l5 and I8 is forced into and between the strands of yarn of the layer l1 bythe pneumatic pressure within the ball, thoroughly impregnating the strands, the material of one layer meeting, coalescing, and becoming integrated with that of the other layer. After vulcanization, the cover of the ball becomes a single integral structure of rubber 28 (Fig. 8) extending from the inner face of the inner layer IE to the outer face of the outer wear resisting cover 18, in which are embedded strands of yarn l'l. Such a cover is wear resisting, pliable, and, by virtue of the embedded strands of yarn or cord, is resistant to circumferential stretching caused by blows delivered to it when in play. Because of the integrated character of the cover, no relative displacement of its parts is possible, and the development of soft spots is delayed longer than is the case with baseballs of this type as now made.

When vulcanization is completed, the pressure within the ball is relieved, either through the hypodermic needle or, if no needle is used, by puncturing the cover 28 as at 25 (Fig. 8), thereby allowing the compressed air, gas, or steam to issue from the center of the balL: The moisture within the ball center which remained therein at the time the kapok was subjected to contact with steam is partially retained when the internal pneumatic pressure is relieved, serving to prevent the kapok from becoming unduly dry when the heat of vulcanization is applied. In. any event, this applied moisture serves to prevent loss of moisture, naturally present in the kapok, under the action of the vulcanizing heat and subsequent venting of the ball center.

If the kapok is allowed to become-dry, its fibers are broken, and in some cases become finely pulverized both during vulcanization and afterward when the ball is being used in play, with the result that the ball loses the resiliency which is necessary for satisfactory performance.

After the pressure within the ball is relieved, the ball is removed from the mold and when cool is ready for use. It is to be observed that, however, the internal pneumatic pressure is created, it is essential that it be relieved before the mold is parted. Otherwise rupture of the ball cover would occur. If the internal pressure is only that caused by heat expansion of the air, or vaporization of moisture, normally present. within or gas, or by means of gas generated either by a chemical pill or by vaporization of an internally disposed liquid such as ammonia, or by steam formed from a supernormal water content of the kapok, it is essential that such additional pressure be relieved through the hypodermic needle or by puncturing the outer cover l8.

Fig. 9 shows an alternative means for applying Small metallic or stifi rubber pins 26 are secured to the ball center, and these pins are used as a means of mounting the center within the mold parts 23 and 24. The pins are placed radially in the equatorial plane-of the center coinciding with the plane of the meeting faces of the mold and are of sufficient length to project into small receiving grooves (not shown) formed in these meeting faces. The pins serve to suspend the center between the two halves of the mold with the outer surface of the center concentrically spaced from the interior surface of the mold.

Vulcanizable liquid rubber is then forced under pressure through a conduit 29 into a chamber 21 so formed. The rubber material is forced into all portions of this chamber and is brought into intimate contact with the face of the mold. The pressure of the liquid rubber also serves to put all the component parts of the ball under pressure, which may be augmented by theadmission of air through a hypodermic needle or by any of the other means above outlined. The ball is then vulcanized, the internal pressure relieved if advisable, and the ball removed from the mold as before. i

In the drawing the thicknesses of the layers of rubber l5 and I8, the layers of rubber cement M and Ila, and the layers of yarn l2 and H are magnified for clarity of disclosure. The thick- ,ness of the entire cover-portion I8 of the ballv from the outer surface of the kapok mass ll to the outer surface of the completed ball is, relative to the diameter of the ma% of kapok, substantially less than that shown in the drawing.

It will be understood that many unessential variations in the structure of the ball and the method of manufacture can be made without .departing from the spirit of this invention. The kapok Il may have a small central core of hard rubber or other material, or the kapok may be formed around a small hollow sphere of rubber or other material if it is desired to lighten the weight of the ball or secure some other desired result.

Theouter rubber-cover may be pre-molded in sections, as in hemispherical cups, and during the molding operation may be either partially or wholly vulcanized and have embossed thereon markings representing seams and stitching or other designs molded on the outer surface. These molded sections may then be applied to the ball center. and vulcanized in place upon the layer of yarn H in a mold or by the simple application of heat, or the sections may be coated on their inner face with"self-curing liquidcement and applied to the ball center. If molded upon the center, pressure may be appliedinternally as described above.

If it is desired to produce a leather covered ball, the process is modified. The outer rubber cover isapplied as before, but ispreferably of less thickness. The leather cover may, then .be applied outside the outer rubber cover, and any of the known methods of securing it to the ball may be used. The ball may be vulcanized prior to the application of the leather cover, or, the leather cover may be coated on the inner surface with latex or liquid rubber and applied to the vulcanizable rubber material for the cover l8.

the unvulcanized outer rubber cover and the completely assembled ball placed in the mold and vulcanized, either with or without the application of internal pneumatic pressure.

The word vulcanizable has been used in the above description to describe rubber material, either solid or liquid, which-is capable of vulcanization, and. is applicable to rubber material which has been partially vulcanized aswell as to that which has been subjected to no vulcanizing action.

One main feature of this invention is the provision in a ball having a solid or substantially solid fibrous center of a double-walled rubber cover, between which s interposed elongated fibrous material, the entire cover being preferably integrally united. A cover of this character enables a more efficient use of internally applied pneumatic pressure to make a perfectly molded and uniformly dense cover, and when integrally formed provides a cover more resistant to circumferential stresses and less subject to relative displacement of its component parts. Another main feature is the provision of a supernormal content of water in the fibrous center of the ball,

,which prevents undue desiccation of the ball when vulcanized, with resultant pulverization of its fibers and loss of elasticity of the ball in play.

We claim as our invention:

1. 'In a game ball: a substantially solid core of air-pervious, compacted fibrous material; ,a gastight rubber wall enveloping said core; a concentric layer of fibrous strands enveloping said rubber wall; and a wear-resisting overall rubber cover contiguous to said layer of strands.

2. In a game ball: asubstantially solid core of air-pervious, compacted fibrous material; a gastight rubber wall enveloping said core; a concentric layer of fibrous strands enveloping said rubber wall; and a wear-resisting overall rubber -cover contiguous to said layer of strands, said strands being embedded in the rubber material of sa d wall and cover, and the rubber material of said wall being integrally united with the rubber material of said' cover.

3. In a rubber covered object: a substantially solid core of air-pervious, compacted fibrous material; a gas-tight rubber wall enveloping said core; a layer of tension-resisting strands enveloping said rubber wall; and a wear-resisting overall cover of flexible material enveloping said layer of strands.

.4. In a game ball: a substantially solid core of air-pervious, compacted fibrous material impregnated with a supernormal content of water; a

fluid-tight rubber wall enveloping said'core; a

. concentric layer of fibrous strands enveloping said rubber wall; and a wear-resisting overall cover contiguous to said layer of strands.

5. In a game ball: a substantially solid core of air-pervious, compacted fibrous material; ,a gastight rubber wall enveloping said core; a concentric layer of textile material enveloping said rubber wall, said layer being of substantial thickness and sufiicient to appreciably modify the rebound characteristics of the ball; and a wear-resisting overall rubber cover contiguous to said layer of textile material. j e

w 6. In a game ball: a substantially solid core of alr-pervious, compacted fibrousmaterial; a gastight rubber wall enveloping said core; a concentric layer of fibrous strands contiguously enveloping said rubber wall, said layer of wound fibrous strands having a thickness several times greater than the diameter of the strands thereof and sufficient to appreciably modify the rebound characteristics of the ball; and a wear-resisting overall rubber cover contiguous to said layer of strands.

'7. In a game ball: a substantially solid core of air-pervious, compacted fibrous material; a gastight rubber wall enveloping said core; a concentric layer of wound fibrous strands having a thickness several times greater than the diameter of the strands thereof and sufficient to appreciably modify the rebound characteristics of the ball, said concentric layer contiguously enveloping said rubber wall; and a wear-resisting overall rubber cover contiguous to said. layer of strands.

WILLIAM J. VOIT.

LEI'I'H C. WEIMER. 

